Sketching in Shetland 2023

Here is my Shetland sketchbook:

This sketchbook was brilliant because it could fold back onto itself, and I could hold it with one hand.

I often worked on two sketches at once. I worked on a drawing on a sheet, alongside the drawing in the sketchbook. One drawing dried while I worked on the other one. Work does not dry quickly in Shetland: there’s a dampness in the air.

Here are drawings in Aberdeen:

From Aberdeen I take the overnight ferry to Lerwick in Shetland Mainland. Shetland is 100 miles off the north coast of Scotland.

The ferry from Aberdeen takes about 12 hours and travels 200 miles.

I stay on the West side of Shetland. There are smooth hills, few trees and usually a view of water.

Here is a magical place: high up on cliffs near the sea at Littlure is the Barni Loch. My drawing is inspired by the work of Peter Davis an artist based in the Shetland Islands.

A bit further on is Footabrough.

During this walk, the island of Foula floats on the horizon, sometimes visible, sometimes not.

I was staying at Burrastow. There is a table by the beach.

Here is the view from the Beach Table

I’ve drawn Burrastow House on previous visits.

On this visit I drew landscapes. I’ll make a new post to show you those, and also to show pictures from my visit to Fair Isle.